Articulated toy and spoon for hand feeding an infant



J. L. WERTZ April 2, 1957 ARTICULATED TOY AND SPOON FOR HAND FEEDING AN INFANT Filed Jan. 10, 1955 Fig.

John L War/z INVENTOR. BY fiuyfi AW United States Patent ARTICULATED TOY AND SPOON FOR HAND FEEDING AN INFANT John L. Wertz, Detroit, Mich., assignor of one-half to Raymond E. Myers, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 10, 1955, Serial No. 480,815

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-123) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in feeding spoons for babies, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for attracting the attention of and amusing the baby, thereby facilitating the feeding operation.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a feeding spoon of the aforementioned character wherein the hand which holds the spoon will be completely concealed from the babys view.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a baby feeding spoon of the character described which will be simple in construction, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a baby feeding spoon embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view principally in vertical longitudinal section through the device; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through an eye portion of the device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a spoon of suitable material, preferably plastic, which is designated generally by reference character 5. The spoon 5 includes a bowl 6 and an integral, elongated handle 7.

Fixed at an intermediate point on the handle 7 is a simulated clowns face 8 comprising a substantially concavo-convex plate or disk 9 of plastic or other suitable material. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing, the face 8 includes a mouth opening 10 in which the handle 7 is fixed. It may be well to here state that the disk 9 is of a size or diameter to conceal thcrebehind the hand which grips the handle 7.

It will be noted that the opening 10 extends through a comparatively thick bearing element 10A, which prevents the disc from being cracked or broken from the handle 7, in the event that the infant should grab the disc, or exert pressure on the disc during the feeding operation.

The simulated face 8 includes apertured ears 11 which are integral with the periphery of the disk 9. Formed integrally with the upper portion of the disk 9 is a representation of a hat 12. The disk 9 further includes, on its lower portion, a representation of a bow tie 13.

The face 8 still further includes representations of eyes 14. As best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing, the eyes 14 comprise transparent plastic cups 15 which are mounted on the front of the disk 9. Loosely mounted in the cups 15 are colored disks 16 representing the pupils of the eyes 14.

It is thought that the use of the spoon will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the handle 7 is gripped behind the disk 9 in an obvious manner and the food in the bowl 6 is tendered the baby. The baby, being attracted to and amused by the face 8, is rendered cooperative and accepts the food. Such attraction is furthered by the eyes 14 with the movable or shiftable pupils 16 which may function as rattles. The hand which is feeding the baby is concealed behind the disk 9 with the result that the child will focus its attention on the food in the bowl 6, this constituting a highly important and desirable feature of the invention. Thus, the food is made more enjoyable and the pleasure of feeding the baby is enhanced.

It is believed that the many advantages of a baby feeding spoon constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A device for hand feeding an infant, comprising in combination, a spoon having a relatively small, shallow bowl and a comparatively long handle, and a concavoconvex member, simulating the face of a clown, and having a comparatively thick walled hollow bearing element, received on said handle and arranged, so that the simulated face is directed toward the bowl of said spoon, and positioned relatively near thereto, and characterized by the fact that the handle of said spoon, extends through the mouth of said simulated face, and is reinforced at the junction with said disc by said bearing element, and said face disc is provided with a pair of outwardly directed, transparent cups, in each of which is freely mounted a small disc, said small discs being arranged to roll and rattle in said cups, on any movement of the spoon, during the feeding operation, whereby to attract the attention of the infant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 67,759 Meehan July 7, 1925 D. 109,795 Brannock May 24, 1938 840,832 Everett Jan. 8, 1907 1,501,020 Small July 8, 1924 2,526,619 Gamache Oct. 24, 1950 

